Chapter 1-

Things had finally calmed down in the Clock Tower. julius had completely given into Alice, and wasn't ignoring her, as much as he could help. He still gave her the 'hmm's' and 'humm's' that he always used to give her when working.

It didn't matter, though, not to Alice. She felt at peace, knowing he was still the man she fell in love with. knowing that no matter how little Julius spoke, he talked to her the most. It was comforting, and nothing could destroy the moments they had together.

Moments like they were having now.

Alice sat in her chair besides Julius, watching as he weaved his magic into the broken clocks to be found on his desk. She rested her head on his shoulder and occasionally his cheek into her light brown hair.

It was true, nothing could ruin these moments, except an ever happy knight that just so happened to barge through the door. "Hey Julius! Hey Alice!" he greeted cheerfully.

Julius blushed slightly as he realized the situation he had been found in. "Knight, just leave the clocks and go."

Alice pouted. "Is that anyway to treat your friends, Julius?" she scolded him. All the clockmaker did was roll his eyes.

"Now, now , Julius. Listen to your wife," Acxe tried to copy the foreigner.

At this coment the couple blushed madly. "I'm Not-he's not..." Alice fumbled for her words.

Ace laughed. "Come on, it was just a joke. Anyway, Alice, you should come visit the Queen. She's been in a bit of a depression latley, no idea why, but I think you could help me out by talking to her. She keeps sending soldiers after me, and it's no fun since they're all weak."

"I'll go with you then. Bye Julius." With that the knight and foreigner turned to leave the room but stopped in their tracks as they noticed something on the floor.

It was a white envelope with a pocket watch drawn on the top. Ace picked it up and handed it to Julius. "For you, Time, I'm betting since there's a clock on it," he laughed.

Julius snatched the letter away. His eyes widened as seveal sheets of paper fell out of the envelope and landed on his desk. Alice picked a few up and looked at them. They were photographs, all of them.

One was her preparing coffee and Julius leaning over her to get to the cabinet.

Another was Julius, asleep on his desk, and Alice placing a blanket on his shoulders.

The last was one of Julius working on his clocks and Alice resting her head on his shoulder. This was the situation they had been in before Ace had appeared.

Alice met Julius's wide eyes. She tried to speek, but all that came out was, "What..."

"It seems like someone has an interest in you Alice. You better be careful, I told you this would happen," the clockmaker mumbled, throwing the pictures into the trash next to his desk.

"Or," Ace added. "someone has a crush on you, Julius, and I don't mean our beloved foreigner."

"Ace," Julius said sternly. "this is nothing to joke about. If you are going to the castle," he added towards Alice. "make sure you get there quick and that you're always with Ace."

The foreigner nodded. "Let's go Ace."

With that the two left. While Alice's mind was pondering on why someone would take pictures of her with Julius, she forgot to lead the way. Soon, the two found themselves at the gates to the Hatter's Mansion.

"It's the Lady!" a voice called out.

Alice's arms were snatched by the Tweedle twins. "The boss wants to see you," Dum said.

"It's good you came when you did, otherwise he would've had to get you," Dee finished.

The girl's eyes widened. Blood, she thought. Blood is back? I thought he went to Jokers' Prison, wherever that is, so why is he back? "Blood's... here?"

Dee and Dum exchanged glances then they looked back up at Alice. Together they answered, "No, of course not. He got replaced."

Well, this is going to be about three to four chapters. Please thank crazy2000 for requesting this story, and I'm sorry for the wait on it!

I hope you enjoyed it, and please review!